Downdraft gas producer



Jan. 13. 1925.

, H. W. BAMBER DOWNDRAFT GAS PRODUCER Filed March 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 13.- 1925,

H. W. BAMBER DOWNDRAFT GAS PRODUCER 3 sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1924 Jan. 13.1925.

H. w. BAMBER DOWNDRAFT GAS PRODUCER Filed March 21, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

LEAFS 'ria HERBERT WILLIAM BAMBER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

DOWNDRAFT GAS PRODUCER.

Application filed March 21, 1924. Serial No. 700,928.

tice' to employ the up-draft type as compared with the down-draft'as is proposed by the improved apparatus hereinafter described.

The disadvantage of the ordinarypractice with up-draft producers is the liability of the formation of clinker on the grate and the consequent choking of the air supply, and when the vaporizer is situated at or near the. grate or even at the top of the furnace the liability to flooding the furnace with water is a common fault especially when the engine is stopped and the gas production ceases.

The object of. the present improvements is to so construct a gas producer that it shall not be susceptible to the aforesaid disadvantages, and for this purpose it is pre sumed that a down-draft is to be employed and according to this invention the interior casing of the furnace is provided with a detachable refractory lined fire box that rests upon a base or ash pit provided with a perforated removable cage through which the gas generated passes into an annular space surrounding said cage to the exit branch formed in the base or ash pit. The

interior casing aforesaid is surrounded by a cylindrical shell whereby an annular space is formed for preheating the air supply to the producer in the usual manner, the air being admitted to said annular space by a branch conduit provided on the shell. Upon the top of the fire box is mounted a perforated ring through which the heated air from the annular space aforesaid is admitted into the furnace to support combustion the said perforated ring being enclosed by the cover plate attached to the top of the producer shell and upon which is secured by clamps the fuel hopper or container. Centrally of the fuel hopper and from the aforesaid cover plate depends the steam generator or water vaporizer which is cylindrical in form, the hollow interior affording a conduit for admission of fuel from the hopper above, the steam or water vapor generated therein passing therefrom through holes provided towards the top and mixing with the air aforesaid to support combustion for the generation of gas. Towards the top of this steam generator is provided an overflow pipe that passes through the outer shell of the producer and terminates in a siphonic U-tube which serves to maintain a constant level of the water within the water vaporizer and being visible to the attendant or driver facilitates the proper regulation of quantity admitted.

The improvements thus briefly described are illustrated in the accompanying three sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a gas producer of the type referred to, the right hand half being in elevation and the left hand half in vertical section.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the producer as viewed from the right hand side of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan, the lower half as viewed from the top of Figure l whilst the upper half is shown with the fuel hopper or container removed.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the base or ash pit upon which the producer is mounted the right hand half being in section, and

Figure 5 a front elevation of the ash pit door or closure.

Similar reference cl'iaracters relate to like parts in all the figures of the drawings in which it will be seen that represents the tire box, a, the lite box casing and the refractory lining for the fire box. The tire box rests on the annular angle iron (Z at the top of'the ash pit e, the usual jacket f for the air supply being provided on the exterior of the casing a. The fuel hopper g situated at the top of the producer is preferably applied thereto by four or more clamps it so that it can be removed therefrom expeditiously for inspection or examination of the fire box 0.

Centrally of the top of the producer and at the base of the fuel hopper g is placed a depending cylindrical vaporizer 2', the interior 7' serving for the admission of the fuel from the hopper g whilst the annular space serves for the reception of the water to be vaporized which vapor escapes therefrom through holes is provided towards the top of the outer member of the vaporizer 2'.

The water supply to the vaporizer i is governed by an ordinary valve (not shown) situated near to the driver-of the vehicle and in order to avoid any excess of the water supply, at a convenient distance from the producer be working on suction or by a hinged joint 2? and on the other pressure.

The vaporizer z is preferably made as a separate unitand kept in position by gravity or fixed to the top cover oof the producer by any.convenient'means. The cover plate 7) ofv the vaporizer i is secured thereto by the bolts 9 that pass through holes provided therefor and the depending member 1" forms the conduit for the delivery of the fuel from. the hopper or container 9.

provided with a front removable cover plate or door 3 which is preferably secured to the vertical flanges of the casing on the one side side and by clamping means such as the bar 7.6

accessories as illustrated in Figures and 5.

Within the interior of the base a of the producer is fitted a perforated ash bathe ring 7; through which the gas generated passes into the annular space 6- encircling the same from whence the gas finds its way through the outlet branch to that is connected to the scrubber and thence to the engine.

This perforated ash baflle ring o rests on the base 2 of the producer and on opening the door 8 the said ring 1; can be readily removed if and when required. Preferably the front of the ash battle is madeopcn towards the door '8 as shown in Figure 4 that is to say instead of being a complete ring it is more or less in the form of the lettei v The base or ash pit c of the producer is U so that when the door .9 isopen ready ac- V cess to the ash pit is obtained. The air supply is admitted into the annular space f between the detachableiire box casing a and'the outer casing f by the branch conduit 3 rises therein and passes over the top edge 4: and through the holes of a perforated fuel baffle ring 5 mounted on the top of'the detachable fire box 0 whence it finds its way in a downward direction with the steam or water vapor generated in the vaporizer 2' through the fuel to support the combustion thereof the gases generated pass ing-into the ash pit e and from thence into 1 the annular passage e to the conduit to as above described.

The gas producer as above described is as.

stated more particularly intended for use in connection with automobile engines but nat urally the same construction may be employed for the supply of gaseous fuel for f internal combustion engines for other purposes i 7 What I claim is in combination a detachable refractory lined A down draft gas producer comprising fire box, an ash pit supporting said firebox, I

a removable perforated baflle ring within said ash pit, and an exit conduit leadingfga from the ash pit, an outer shell surrounding said fire box and also supported on said ash pit and forming an annular space between said shell and said fire box, means for admitting air to said. annular space, a covers;- 7

plate for said fire box, a perforatedring mounted on the top ofthefire box. below said cover plate, a cylindrical steam generator vdepending from and fixed-to said cover plate, means for allowing vapor to.

escape from said generator, an overflow pipe from said generator termlnating in a siphonic U-tube, and a fuel hopper removably mountedon the firebox coverplate for supplying fuel tosaid fire box.

In testimony whereofl affix my i mf."

ture.

HERBERT 'WILLIAM BAMBER. 

